Sierra Trip Launches QWR Adventure Bike Module

QWR’s trip today to the Stanislaus National Forest marks the launch of its new “Adventure Bike” module that currently consists of a 2006 Triumph Tiger 955i.   Our discussions with agency staff centered on Subpart A of travel management and the impacts of the Rim Fire to the trail and road network.

Adventure bike and dual-sport based recreation is a growing segment of the OHV community.   Those interests deserve a seat at the table and we want to make sure that opportunities continue to exist for those forms of motorized recreation on public lands.

A March 29, 2012 letter from the Washington Office of the Forest Service to all Regional Foresters stated the agency expects to maintain an appropriately sized and environmentally sustainable road

system that is responsive to ecological, economic, and social concerns. The National Forest Road

System of the future must continue to provide needed access for recreation and resource

management, as well as support watershed restoration and resource protection to sustain healthy ecosystems.

QWR wants to encourage both street legal and non-street legal motorized trail and road users to be on the lookout for travel analysis reports which are to be published by the end of FY2015. Those reports are supposed to rank, identify, and/or map FS system roads (maintenance levels 1-5) according to their ability to meet a unit’s resource and recreation goals.

Catastrophic wildfires such as the Rim Fire can often cause the impacted area to be closed to all human activity (i.e. OHV, hunting, hiking, fishing, etc.) for periods of a year or more.  Also, those fire events can have a devastating impact on the developed OHV recreation infrastructure such as engineered trails and campgrounds.

QWR is excited about the addition of our adventure bike module which joins our other vehicle programs that advocate for responsible SxS, SUV, trail-bike, and dual-sport use on public roads, trails, and areas.

Link to March 29, 2012 FS Chief’s Subpart A Letter

http://www.lbl.org/pdf/2012ChiefsLetterTravelManagement.pdf

*Thanks to all our sponsors and supporters who help keep us on the road or trail!

New Smokey Bear Ad and OHV Spark Arresters

QWR Sound Check Station at Chappie-Shasta OHV Area

 

As you know, QWR promotes the use of sound compliant exhaust with a functioning spark arrester when riding an OHV on designated roads, trails, and areas on public lands.  Recently, the Ad Council started its new Smokey Bear campaign in time to remind various publics about how they can help prevent wildfires.

Smokey Bear Campaign

www.smokeybear.com

QWR also wants to commend the campaign for its positive message when it comes to the use of OHVs on public lands.  Several years ago, the Smokey Bear program had a less-than-positive message about the legal use of OHVs on federal lands. 

In addition, the Forest Service updated their Spark Arrestor Guide last year with a lot of good information including a detailed list of all OHV-related approved spark arrestors.

 

Spark Arrester Guide – OHV Vol. 3

http://www.fs.fed.us/t-d/programs/fire/spark_arrester_guides/index.htm

 

 

According to the guide, Forest Service Standard 5100-1c requires that each arrester shall be permanently marked with the model number and the manufacturer’s name or trademark. The model number must match exactly. The identification must be stamped in the metal body or on an attached metal plate.

 

Many states have spark arrester laws.  For those if you in CA, you can find that law below:

http://ohv.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=23039

 

QWR looks forward to seeing many of you out on the trail this year.  Let’s all work to help ensure that OHV recreationists are using sound compliant spark arrestor exhaust systems to help reduce the threat of wildfires on public lands.

QWR President to Testify at House Subcommittee Hearing on June 22, 2011

Don Amador, president of QWR, just received his confirmation from the House that he will testify before the House Subcommittee on Wednesday, June 22 at 10 a.m.  The focus of the hearing is in regards to Recreational Opportunities (or lack thereof) on Public lands.  This will be Don's first trip as QWR owner to Washington DC to testify at a Congressional Hearing.  Don will also be representing BRC at the hearing.

Info on June 22 Hearing – It will have live video

http://naturalresources.house.gov/Calendar/EventSingle.aspx?EventID=246553

Amador will question the BLM’s decision-making process associated with the ongoing landscape level functional closure of the 75,000-acre Clear Creek Management Area (CCMA) to all user groups on May 1, 2008.  This unit is managed by the Hollister Field Office (HFO) and is located in Fresno and San Benito Counties in the Central Coast Mountain Range of California.

Amador expects to include in his testimony information from the new OHMVR Health Study, comments from previous public input, San Benito County, motorcycle riders, and other stakeholders.

Amador will also be ready to field questions from House Members regarding travel management.

QWR believes that land management decisions should be made on good science and not based on the personal or political agendas of unelected government officials.

The entire witnesses list below:

Panel I

Mr. Russ Ehnes

Executive Director

National Off-Highway Vehicle Conservation Council

Mr. Scott Jones

Colorado Off-Highway Vehicle Coalition

Mr. Dick Lepley

Executive Director

Pennsylvania Off-Highway Vehicle Association

Ms. Karen Umphress

Board Member

Coalition of Recreational Trails Users

Minnesota Motorized Trail Coalition

Panel II

Mr. Don Amador

Blue Ribbon Coalition

Mr. Tom Crimmins

Lead Spokesman

Professionals for Managed Recreation

Mr. Sutton Bacon

CEO

Nantahala Outdoor Center

Mr. Jim Akenson

Executive Director

Backcountry Hunters and Anglers

Legislative Fix Needed to Address Denial of Special Recreation Event Permits

As more non-motorized and motorized clubs are being forced to cancel historic permitted events because of a burdensome administrative process, Quiet Warrior Racing believes it is time so seek a legislative fix to this issue.

For the last 13 years, I have worked sound tech at numerous motorized permitted events on Forest Service and BLM lands.  That opportunity has given me the chance to gain insight regarding this issue from both the club and agency perspective.  In recent years, QWR has seen an increased regulatory burden (cost recovery, insurance, agency staff shortages, excessive and/or unwarranted environmental review, etc.) directly causing a dramatic decline in the number of permitted events being authorized on federal lands.

For units that want permitted events to occur, that regulatory burden has made it almost impossible for the agency to authorize an event.  For units that want to eliminate permitted events, that same burden is being used as a convenient excuse for denying that activity.

Currently, the administration of special recreation permits (BLM) and special use permits (FS) is 100% discretionary with no appeal process.  QWR believes that recreationists will continue to see a decline in the authorization of permits unless a solution is found.

QWR is convinced that Congress is best suited to address this issue with a legislative fix.  That concept has evolved over the last several years after reviewing this issue with clubs, land managers, and legislators.

QWR will be encouraging and working with national recreation groups and legislators to find a long-term solution to this growing problem.  QWR believes that the goal of this legislation should be to streamline the administrative process and eliminate/reduce excessive or redundant environmental review specifically in recreation areas that have already been designated for a particular activity such as OHV, rock climbing, OSV, equestrian, and mountain-bikes.

In this climate of fiscal downturn, federal agencies should be working hard to encourage permitted events which often brings much needed economic benefit to the local community.  A solution is out there…now we just need a collective effort to find it.